A Christmas Carol

An exciting merry rendition, for the festive mood, of Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol. Dickens’ novel is much of doom and gloom; Lies, Lies and Propaganda’s Theatre Co production is the opposite, an interesting mixture of Dickens’ themes and present day conflicts, bringing together a mixture of family and society’s values towards others in need of Christmas cheer, adapted by Melissa Lee Speyer. It’s an experimental production, incorporating Christmas festivities and Dickens’ character Scrooge, confronted by Ghosts of Christmas Past, Future and Present. Well known Christmas songs such as Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ coupled with Eartha Kitt’s ‘Santa Baby’ and accompanied by Miles Elkington’s live music, makes a wonderful production, with excellent performances by an ensemble cast, well directed by Michael Dean.

The storyline had comic aspects, a fairy tale for adults with a sinister side. With an impressive beginning acknowledging the traditional owners of the land over the loud speaker system, reminiscent of watching the beginning of a Shakespeare play, was a lovely touch to the tale as it unfolded on stage. A minimalist set with fairy lights and Christmas trees poised upside down surrounding the musician on a keyboard (Elkington), as he accompanied the story, facing a black stage with a darkened mirror, where Scrooge (Bobbie-Jean Henning) would stare and reflect on life.

It was a wonderful fun night suited to the festive season, not to be missed.

Charlotte Hanson